“Former Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan (D) is facing harassment charges after a fight in a town of Barker bar last week … Troopers said Ryan got into an argument over politics with pro-gas drilling activist Victor Furman, from Chenango Forks. Ryan allegedly pushed Furman with both hands in the chest and knocked him over multiple bar stools onto the ground. According to troopers, Ryan then said, “I ought to punch you right in the mouth.” Ryan is facing a harassment charge, in the second degree …”

I spoke with one of our members from Long Island who works for another non-gun special interest who informed me that he interviewed candidates for his organization and they all told him that as they’re going door to door the hot button issues people are talking about, aside from taxes, are common core and the SAFE Act.

“… The debate continued with Senator Klein and candidate Koppell upgrading themselves on their accomplishments over their opponent, with candidate Koppell saying that he had drafted up the original Safe Act legislation, not Senator Klein …”

“Senate Republicans have lost a big weapon in their fight against the Democrats for control of the chamber: former Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg was the single largest donor to the Senate Republican Campaign Committee during his three terms in office — but since leaving City Hall, he hasn’t given a dime …”

The short term cash he gave to help pass gun control will do nothing to assuage the long term anger at the Republicans for passing the SAFE Act without so much as a whimper from the “leadership.”

“… Now that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout has survived Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s residency challenge and is assured a spot on the Sept. 9 primary ballot, her campaign is turning up the heat on Cuomo’s running mate, Kathy Hochul. Last night, Teachout and her running mate, Columbia Law Prof. Tim Wu, released a video highlighting Hochul’s voting record and statements – both as the Erie County clerk and as a congresswoman … There’s also footage of Hochul touting her backing from the NRA … The video concludes by deeming Hochul the “wrong” kind of Democrat for New York, and highlighting Wu as a “progressive” candidate for LG …”

Teachout and Wu aren’t likely to win, but they could do well enough to embarrass Cuomo. He’s apparently concerned enough about that happening to pay for a mailing:

“… A mailer from the state Democratic Committee touts both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his running mate Kathy Hochul, and urges voters to take part in the Sept. 9 Democratic primary … The flyer also quotes Hochul, a former Democratic House representative from wester New York, praising Cuomo’s record. “In just four years, Governor Cuomo raised the minimum wage, reduced the middle-class income tax rate, put us on the road to universal pre-K, pass commonsense gun regulations and brought marriage equality to New York,” the mailer says …”

He’s kidding himself if he thinks gun control is going to help him, but he can’t back away from it now. NYAGV hasn’t even endorsed him, not that their endorsements carry any weight anyway, nor do I see any effort by Bloomberg’s people to come to his aid.